Straight Talk – an ISSA Podcast

Daigle Cleaning Systems, based in Albany, NY, is an ISSA member company and takes advantage of ISSA programs, such as the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) certification. The company offers virtually every type of cleaning service, such as home maid services, post-construction cleaning, pressure washing, office cleaning, carpet cleaning, water damage restoration, and more. Derek Foster...

Are all cleaning products the same? Are they better than conventional cleaning products? And can you find "good" green cleaning products manufactured by "bad" companies? Stephen P. Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group, and has strong feelings for the cleaning industry and especially when it comes to corporate responsibility. Whether it is specific products being used, the...

Fleas are a nuisance, but they do more than itch. They can cause all types of issues beyond discomfort and can quickly invade and infest a home or even a commercial facility.   In this episode sponsored by ARCSI, a division of ISSA, urban and medical entomologist Jennifer Gordon shares her thoughts on what the cleaning industry and others need to know about the flea, what it eats, how it infests s...

Mike Atkins is the assistant vice president of facility management services with SOAR365. The facility services company, an ISSA member organization, partners with families and creates life-fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities, tapping into a labor pool willing to work... and work hard. In this ISSA Impact interview, learn how SOAR365 has evolved and found success, and has ta...

Mosquitoes are a pest that can be both an irritant but also a source of disease. There are many details and misunderstandings about this type of insect.   In this episode of Straight Talk!, urban and medical entomologist Jennifer Gordon digs into the details about the mosquito, how it lives, what it eats, how it affects people, and more.

Russ Kendzior is the chairman and founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and is called to be an expert witness for legal issues, for both plaintiffs and defendants. In this episode of Straight Talk!, he outlines what those involved in litigation should know and offers three solid tips that building service contractors can embrace to stay out of the courtroom.

Clean Advocacy Summit, part of National Cleaning Week, was a success, if you ask any who were involved with the event. In this episode of Straight Talk!, John Nothdurft, the director of government affairs with ISSA, explains how advocacy efforts brought some 60 ISSA members to the political battlefield known as Washington, D.C., and how took advantage of networking and presenting ideas and thought...

As a disaster restoration contractor, you need tools to get the job done quick, efficiently, and profitably. Some may not be keeping up with available technologies in restoration. Some are. And the ones who are keeping up are winning in a competitive marketplace. In this episode of Straight Talk!, industry veteran Josh Bachman, a business development advisor with Violand Management Associates, sha...

A new version of the omicron variant is starting to get the attention of scientists, health professionals, and the cleaning industry. Known as "BA.2" or the "stealth" strain, there are concerns about this genetic mutation and how it may become a health issue especially with certain demographics. In this episode of GBACtv's BioTalk, hear from Patty Olinger,  GBAC executive...

Mike Sawchuk is a business coach and uses his expertise to help business owners and facility managers in the cleaning industry to succeed. This special edition of Straight Talk! is in partnership with his article "Effectively Tackling Workforce Challenges" in the March/April 2022 issue of ISSA Today, which is to be published the third week of March. 

Anyone who works with floor maintenance and cleaning wants the absolute best appearance, and for some floors, that’s to create what we call “the wet look” or shiny finish. When you achieve that, you are pretty pleased and proud of yourself or your crew. Besides the appearance, there’s more to consider. Russ Kendzior, chairman and founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), explains real...

In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn how the cleaning industry can respond to an increased risk of indoor air contamination and how building sciences is identifying critical issues and addressing them. John Cordier, Epistemix CEO, and University of Colorado's College of Engineering’s Mark Hernandez share thought-provoking solutions for improving indoor air quality while addr...

Steve Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group and the father of green cleaning. One day he cherishes in his mission is Earth Day, held every April 22. Earth Day is a way for everyone to celebrate protecting the environment. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ashkin discusses what the cleaning industry can do to showcase what industry professionals are doing for their facilities to reduce environ...

Russ Kendzior is the founder and chairman of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and knows there are no winners in litigation that is estimated at approximately $150 billion annually.  In this episode of Straight Talk!, Kendzior describes the state of the industry regarding floor safety, slips, trips, and falls, and how both ISSA and NFSI can team up to bring awareness of important issues.

Dr. Gavin Magregor-Skinner, a senior director with GBAC, a division of ISSA, has been following emerging studies that impact what we know about infectious diseases and transmission of them, and how we can best protect ourselves. In this GBAC industry alert, he describes three studies and concentrates on breaking news regarding the Javits Center, a GBAC STAR accredited facility. 

Joe Lepore is the founder and chairman and Domenico Lepore is the general manager of LCS Facility Group, serving clients across the United States. They have grown their company into a success story by tapping into and utilizing the benefits of ISSA. This is the story of their journey and how they are worthy of imitation.

Employers want to pay their workers a wage that is competitive and provides them with a decent quality of life for working families. The solution to this can be implementing a “living wage” program. Chris Arlen teams up with Michelle Murray from Living Wage for US, a non-profit organization that helps employers navigate the nuances of a living wage program. 

John Downey calls himself a "formerly important person" but he is far from hanging up his hat and retiring. The founder of Cleanfax is busy with his work as the executive director of CIRI, the Cleaning Industry Research Institute. In this special on-location interview, Downey discusses his work and what he is doing to help promote the value of cleaning.

Both Pete Consigli and Cliff Zlotnik are dedicated, passionate industry advocates and have spent decades as  the industry’s watchdogs. In this segment of Straight Talk!, they discuss how the industry has evolved and the work they have done to help the modern restorer.

Jon Isaacson is the host of The DYOJO Podcast and is known as The Intentional Restorer. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Jon proves to be a challenging guest but an entertaining one at the same time.

Stephen P. Ashkin is the founder of The Ashkin Group and is extremely interested in the state of schools and educational opportunities for students, especially regarding how the built environment impacts learning. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ashkin describes the huge gap in funding that is growing annually and the need to do something about it. In his comments, he references an important do...

Saul Strain is the owner and president of ABC Sales & Services in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. He believes in and uses the many resources offered by ISSA, the global cleaning industry association. This is his story about the company's journey using resources offered by ISSA and strategies that should be embraced by any company or organization.

Termites are known as the silent destroyers of homes or facilities because they chew and eat their way through wood and cellulosic materials. They cause billions of dollars in property damage each year.

John Schauff is the director of government services and training with Spartan Chemical Company, and has spent years on a myth debunking journey. Schauff explains the myths and misinterpretations related to cleaning and disinfection and sets the record straight on what you need to know right now and in the future. Learn how these four disinfection myths affect you and your company or organization,...

Brant Insero is the senior director of education, training, certification, and standards with ISSA. In this episode of Straight Talk!, he explains how cleaning education and certification is critical to fostering confidence in school settings.  While most judge their surroundings by sight and smell, when you enter a building, how clean and safe it is goes much deeper. Insero discusses four key com...